​Charity says it "welcomes his willingness to participate in the launch"

A foodbank charity has defended inviting a Tory MP to open its latest venture.

David Mundell, Conservative MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale is to formally open the Trussell Trust and Apex Scotland foodbank in Dumfries on Friday 24 July.

But the move has been roundly criticised by anti-poverty campaigners who believe the Tory party’s raft of welfare cuts is creating the need for Scotland’s burgeoning network of emergency food outlets.

The Trussell Trust currently runs 50 foodbanks in 27 local authorities in Scotland.

A spokesperson for the Trussell Trust defended the move saying its strategy was to invite elected members to openings in their own constituency, no matter what their political affiliation

“David Mundell…plays an important role in Westminster and we believe it is important for him, as well as the elected representatives from all other political parties, to be aware of the implications hunger has on the people of his own constituency,” the spokesperson said.

“We welcome his willingness to participate in the launch and hear from the people who will be working to tackle food poverty in the area.”

Mundell himself created a storm of protest earlier in the year when he denied welfare reforms were linked to foodbank use.

The spokesperson added: “The Trussell Trust supports a robust and resilient welfare system and is keen to engage with elected representatives from all political parties to raise the challenges of insecure employment, decreasing or static incomes, increasing living costs and welfare reform, which are among the key drivers that lead to hunger.”